Business Support Officer – Bereavement Services

About the job

Key information

• 25 days annual leave pro rata, excluding bank holidays.
• Permanent, full time (37 hours) role.
• Based at Taunton Crematorium.

What will I be doing?

We’re working to improve the lives of people in Somerset – and you’ll be a key part of that. Your day-to-day work will involve:

• Applying legislation, risk assessments and ICCM/FBCA standards across crematorium and cemetery services.
• Maintaining statutory records, grave deeds, transfers and memorial permits with high accuracy.
• Supporting memorial safety testing and record‑keeping.
• Delivering chapel services, managing media systems and ensuring all documents and tributes are correct.
• Leading witnessed burials and interments, guiding families to graves and memorial sites.
• Providing professional, sensitive customer service and handling confidential matters respectfully.
• Completing all legal cremation checks and documentation.
• Managing procurement, invoicing, cash handling and financial admin.
• Reviewing leased memorials and ensuring full health & safety compliance.
• Supporting and training colleagues as needed.

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But it will really help if you:

• Have strong IT skills (Outlook, Word, Teams) with ability to learn new systems.
• Have excellent communication, customer service and sensitivity when supporting the bereaved.
• Have knowledge of data protection, equality & diversity, and Health & Safety requirements.
• Are reliable, professional, accountable and able to work under pressure while multitasking.
• Are a confident problem‑solver with good decision‑making skills and understanding of service policies.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

What is in it for me?

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave.
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more.

Supporting documents and information

The salary for this role is Somerset Grade 13, ranging from £25,989 to £28,142 per annum.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact John Ranger on john.ranger@somerset.gov.uk

If you have everything you need, just hit the apply button. We can’t wait to hear from you.

Apply on the Somerset Council website

Apply now